Sky's the limit after Adelaide's SkyCity casino deal - The Australian ...

Artist's impression of proposed $250 million SkyCity Adelaide Casino redevelopment.. Source: AdelaideNow

SKYCITY will be allowed to more than double the number of gaming tables at Adelaide Casino and install an extra 500 poker machines, in a deal that paves the way for a massive expansion.

Treasurer Jack Snelling will announce today that SkyCity Entertainment Group's licence will be updated in an agreement that blocks rival casinos in Adelaide until 2035.

The State Government wants the casino to become a feature attraction of the new Riverbank precinct.

It will provide entertainment for up to 50,000 people expected to attend the new Adelaide Oval each weekend.

Mr Snelling said the deal included the casino paying more tax, bringing it closer to regulations imposed on poker machines in pubs and clubs.

However, it is expected to provoke anger in the charity and social services sectors.In February, SkyCity revealed its vision for the casino, which included a hotel, VIP suites, restaurants, bars and a spa and rooftop pool.

It said the work would not require the removal of any part of the current heritage building.Mr Snelling said he was confident the proposed deal, which needs approval from the Independent Gambling Authority, struck the right balance.

"The negotiations have taken time but we have secured a win for South Australian taxpayers and increased measures to combat problem gambling," he said.

The deal is forecast to return an extra $60 million to the state Budget over the coming four years, including a $20 million up-front payment.

in recent years, as sales and property incomes decline rapidly.

Last month, it sold the right to sell SA Lotteries products to Tatts for a $427 million jackpot.

nteUnder the new licence, SkyCity can have 1500 gaming machines, up from the current 995, and 200 tables, up from 90.

Some will be reserved for "premium" areas to lure international and interstate high rollers.

Taxes on poker machines in the casino will be lifted from 34.4 to 41 per cent, and the charge on table games will rise from 0.9 to 3.4 per cent.

Mr Snelling said the deal also imposed "the strongest responsible gambling measures applied to any casino in Australia". They include:

TECHNOLOGY to ensure poker machines are capable of pre-commitment, in line with Federal Government policy.

AUTOMATIC "risk monitoring systems" to identify reckless gambling behaviour and allow staff to step in.

MACHINES with $5 maximum bets, which is lower than current settings but well above the $1 limit wanted by anti-problem gambling campaigners.

Those restrictions will be written into legislation when State Parliament returns next year.

It means the Liberals and minor parties may be able to push for different restrictions when the plan is brought forward.

Mr Snelling said the casino would have to buy pokies entitlements from the Approved Trading System, a trading network that is aimed at reducing overall poker machine numbers.

The system removes from the gaming sector one in every four machines sold by hotels.

If the casino cannot find enough willing poker machine sellers among hotels and clubs, the Government will create new machine entitlements.

However, those machines will be placed in "premium" gaming areas and the casino barred from selling them.

Mr Snelling said compliance would be overseen by the Independent Gambling Authority.

Source: http://adelaidehub.blogspot.com/2012/12/sky-limit-after-adelaide-skycity-casino_18.html

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An expert's views on buying a telescope

With the 2012 holiday season coming into its "home stretch," many people may be seriously considering the purchase of a telescope.

You've seen telescope ads in newspapers, junk mail catalogs and on those cable TV shopping channels. The typical sales pitch might run something like this:

"Bring the mysteries of the universe up close for your inspection. Study the sun, the moon, the planets, stars, comets and much, much more with this practical learning tool!?

Such claims are a seductive lure to the astronomy neophyte or the well-meaning parent or grandparent wishing to get a space-minded child an instrument that he or she can use to "discover the wonders of the heavens." [Best Telescopes for 2013]

Beware of too much power
Sadly, while most of these "department-store" telescopes may seem to be a good deal and user friendly, they usually end up being a complete frustration to the recipient. One of the features that is usually promised is incredibly high power. But be aware that virtually any telescope can provide you with, for example, 500-times power. However, in most cases, such an advertised magnification is well beyond the practical maximum magnification of the telescope.

A 2.4-inch refracting telescope, for example, should never use more than 120-power magnification (the general rule of thumb is 50-power per inch of aperture). In fact, for such a telescope, the most rewarding views will probably come using half of the practical maximum magnification (60-power).

But of course, the uninitiated (usually that "space-minded child") will want to "test drive" the telescope at the highest possible magnification. The result will be an enlarged and hopelessly fuzzy image that will be virtually impossible to keep in the telescope's field of view thanks to its defective and unbalanced design.

Beware of "the shakes"
Another problem is the telescope mounting, which for most "off-the-shelf" instruments is usually lightweight and unstable. Such mountings are, in turn, attached to a wobbly tripod. Consider this: a telescope can have the finest optics in the world, yet can be rendered totally useless if the mount is so poor that the image can't be held in place.

Before you know it, that "practical learning tool" has ended up in the back of a closest or up in the attic, never to be seen again!????????

But if you have your heart set on purchasing a telescope, here are a few good tips to follow:

Go to your local bookstore or newsstand and browse through one of the various astronomy magazines where well known and reputable manufacturers advertise astronomical telescopes. Many planetariums across the country offer courses on "How to Use a Telescope." Such classes typically assist both the prospective purchaser and those who wish to get the most out of an instruments they already have.

Make an effort to contact local astronomical societies and attend star parties and other, similar events where you can look through various telescopes and talk to their experienced owners. Such gatherings are ideal "showrooms" for commercial as well as home-built telescopes.

But now, I'm about to make a suggestion that few prospective telescope buyers, especially those neophytes of astronomy, want to hear: seriously consider the merits of binoculars before moving up to a telescope.[Review: Best Binoculars for 2013]

Go bino!
Some might think that binoculars are a bit of a come down from a telescope, but the fact is that for certain aspects of skywatching they are the best instrument of all to use.

Binocular vision provides our central image processing system (the brain) with confirmation of what both of our eyes are seeing. In effect we improve our signal-to-noise ratio by using two eyes. The brain filters out the random impulses from each eye and leaves us with a better view of the real object. The result is increased contrast (about 40 percent) and the ability to see fainter objects.

A good pair of binoculars makes a very good instrument for the beginning amateur sky watcher. As to what type of binoculars you should purchase, that's sort of like asking, "What breed of dog should I buy?" Everybody has his or her personal favorites.

Most preferable for stargazing are the 7x50 "night-glasses," although going back to when I was a teenager, my own personal preference has always been 7x35 "wide-angle" binoculars that give a much wider-than-normal field of view. The first number states the power of the binocular (7 power), while the second number represents the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters (35 or 50).

Standard 7-power binoculars will provide about a 6-degree field of view, just wide enough to be able to fit the pointer stars of the Big Dipper. My wide-angle binoculars, however, allow for an 11-degree field of view. Not only are they useful for stargazing, but I've found that the wider field also makes them great for bird watching and sporting events as well.? ?

Keep in mind another factor: Binoculars with magnification powers greater than 10 amplify the movements of your hands, making steady viewing more difficult. This is why 7-power binoculars are chosen by so many experts, including those in the military.

Choose wisely!
Find a reputable store that carries a good range of binoculars and get a knowledgeable salesperson who can talk you through all the pros and cons of the different models. Insist that you be allowed to look through five or six types across the range of prices.

A lot is going to depend on what feels right to you. Look for binoculars that fit comfortably in your hand and across your eyes that have controls in the right places, and seem to offer a good balance between economy and performance.

Easy to use and relatively inexpensive, binoculars are helpful in learning the constellations and in getting acquainted with many attractive deep-sky objects. And when held steadily (though you can also mount them on a tripod) they'll give you a glimpse of the craters of the moon, the crescent of Venus and the moons of Jupiter.

1. Space news from NBCNews.com

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      Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: NASA's twin Grail spacecraft crashed as planned, in a safe "corner of the moon" that will be named after space pioneer Sally Ride.

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Should a bright comet come along (and we may have two coming our way in 2013), there is no better instrument to give you a great overall view of both the head and tail. And by sweeping along the Milky Way, you'll be treated to a myriad of stars.

Because they don't give an inverted view (as is the case with most telescopes), binoculars are especially convenient for comparing a sky map with the stars themselves. And since binoculars require an absolute minimum set-up and takedown time, a frigidly cold winter's night won't deter you from enjoying even a brief session outside.

Last, but certainly not least, the practical experience binoculars give will enable any beginner to get much more satisfaction when they're finally ready to purchase their first telescope.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for The New York Times and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, N.Y. Follow Space.com on Twitter @Spacedotcom. We're also on ?Facebook? and??Google+.

? 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50238499/ns/technology_and_science-space/

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By the numbers: the gun lobby and the gun control debate in Congress (Washington Bureau)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/271398999?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Best videos of 2012: Gravity-defying roof illusion

Joanna Carver, reporter

A head-scratching illusion comes in at number 10 in our best videos of 2012 countdown.

Try to wrap your head around this illusion featuring a roof that appears to defy gravity by attracting balls to its peak. Once the house is rotated to uncover the secret, you'll be surprised to see how dramatically your brain was tricked.

According to Kokichi Sugihara from Meiji University in Kawasaki, Japan, who created the mind-bending house, the illusion is interesting because our brain is fooled even after we've seen the reveal. When trying to make sense of a figure, we're primed to perceive rectangular configurations time and time again.

To find out more, read our original article: "Friday Illusion: Impossible roof defies gravity". For more mind-boggling videos, check out an impossible wedding car or watch a 3D shape that conceals six different tricks.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/26ad5d76/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cnstv0C20A120C120Cbest0Eof0E20A120Egravity0Edefying0Eroof0Eillusion0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Hasbro to make gender-neutral Easy-Bake Oven

After shopping for an Easy-Bake Oven for her brother and finding only purple and pink models, a 13-year-old New Jersey girl petitioned Hasbro to make a gender-neutral version of the toy.

By Michelle R. Smith,?Associated Press / December 17, 2012

McKenna Pope, 13, (r.), and her brother Gavyn Boscio, 4, pose for a photo at their home in Garfield, N.J. Dec. 6. Hasbro says it will soon reveal a gender-neutral Easy-Bake Oven after meeting with Pope, a New Jersey girl who started a campaign calling on the toy maker to make one that appeals to all kids.

Julio Cortez/AP/File

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Hasbro says it will soon reveal a gender-neutral Easy-Bake Oven after meeting with a New Jersey girl who started a campaign calling on the toy maker to make one that appeals to all kids.

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McKenna Pope, 13, of Garfield, N.J., got more than 40,000 signatures on her online petition at Change.org and the support of celebrity chefs including Bobby Flay, who backed her call for Hasbro to make a gender-neutral oven and to include boys in the ads.

She was prompted to start the petition after shopping for an Easy-Bake as a Christmas present for her 4-year-old brother, Gavyn Boscio, and finding them only in purple and pink.

Hasbro invited McKenna and her family to its Pawtucket, R.I., headquarters to meet with its Easy-Bake team, and on Monday, they drove to Rhode Island from New Jersey. During the meeting, Hasbro executives showed off a prototype of their newest Easy-Bake: one that's black, silver and blue.

Hasbro has been working on the new color scheme and design for about 18 months, and decided to invite McKenna to see it and offer her thoughts, said John Frascotti, Hasbro's chief marketing officer.

McKenna said the company is doing everything she asked, including putting boys in the ads.

"I think that they really met most or even all of what I wanted them to do, and they really amazed me," she said, adding that Gavyn thought the new design was "awesome."

Frascotti pointed out that the classic toy has had about a dozen different color schemes, from yellow to green to teal to silver, since first being introduced in 1963. The most recent iteration, introduced in 2011, is mostly purple with pink accents.

He said it's sold well since then, and that prompted the company to look for a way to update it and to broaden the consumer base by doing it in different colors.

"It's actually a product that's played with by both boys and girls," he said. "We will continue to offer the existing product too because it's so popular."

Hasbro plans to introduce the new color scheme at the industry's Toy Fair in New York in February. Frascotti said people are likely to see it on store shelves next summer.

As for McKenna's Christmas present for her brother, she said the TV show "Inside Edition" gave the family an Easy-Bake Oven after learning of her campaign. For Christmas, she said, she'll probably buy him some mixes to bake in it.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/w5F0iYlqKAg/Hasbro-to-make-gender-neutral-Easy-Bake-Oven

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Illinois Foreclosure Rate Increases in November | Chicago Real ...

Residential foreclosure rates in Illinois rose in November, but are still on the decline compared to October?s numbers. One out of every 392 Illinois homes has a foreclosure filing, which is the third highest foreclosure rate in the country, according to RealtyTrac, Inc.

On a national level, the number of foreclosure filings fell 3 percent from October, and the drop in foreclosure activity is a sign that the housing market is beginning to recover. As the economy improves, fewer homeowners are defaulting on their mortgages. Foreclosures are also no longer a major bargain. In September, the average discount on a foreclosed home was only 8 percent below market value.

The current high foreclosure in Illinois rate isn?t necessarily a bad sign. Before the housing market can fully recover and new home construction can pick up again, the current foreclosure inventory will need to be sold. It is also important to note that Illinois foreclosure rates consistently rank higher than average because all foreclosures must be finalized through the courts.

As of September, the Chicago real estate market had the 11th highest foreclosure rate of large metro areas, but this number has been decreasing since the summer. It is predicted that foreclosure rates will begin to stabilize in early 2013 after lenders are able to sell more of their current backlog.

Source: http://www.chicagolandrealestateforum.com/2012/12/16/illinois-foreclosure-rate-increases-in-november/

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Lee on "The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Criminal Law"

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Source: http://lsolum.typepad.com/legaltheory/2012/12/lee-on-the-oxford-handbook-of-philosophy-of-criminal-law.html

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Gabrielle Aplin tops UK charts with Power of Love

MANILA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Filipinos jumped from their seats and watched in horror as Manny Pacquiao fell face first to the canvas after being knocked out by Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas. Cinemas, hotels, public parks and even army bases across the Philippines fell silent on Sunday as Pacquiao, the only boxer to win world titles in eight weight divisions, tasted his second straight defeat this year. "I'm so shocked, I can't believe it when Manny was ahead on points," barber Pedro Varela told Reuters after watching the fight at a cinema in a Manila shopping mall. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gabrielle-aplin-tops-uk-charts-power-love-190515139.html

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As cliff looms, both sides position on entitlements

By Carrie Dann, NBC News

WASHINGTON -- As the days dwindle before the U.S. reaches the fiscal cliff, Republicans and Democrats are jostling for position on long-term fiscal reforms even as they urge an emergency fix to dodge?automatic spending cuts and tax hikes before the first of the year.

"The president wants the [tax] rates to go up. That doesn't solve the problem," House Majority Whip?Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said on NBC's Meet the Press. "We don't want to be back here in another year, in another ten years, answering the same questions."

California Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Democratic senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, discuss the revenue math behind their Party's respective fiscal plans.

While the public standoff continues between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, both sides are staking out their ground for a looming fight over entitlement reform even as some Republicans acknowledge that they may lose the short term debate over?tax rates for the highest-income Americans.?

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., one of the first Republicans to suggest allowing the president to raise rates on the top two percent of earners, reiterated Sunday that he could support a rate increase as part of a larger deal but accused Democrats of "lying to the American people" about the need for painful entitlement fixes.?

"You can't play the game and hide," he said on ABC's "This Week." "Medicare and Social Security and Medicaid, if those aren't fixed, if we're not honest about how to fix them and the fact that - yes - ?everybody in this country will have to participate in some discomfort if we're going to get out of this ... it is dishonest and beneath anybody in Washington."?

Recommended:?Senate filibuster challenged in court

Coburn - along with Senate colleague Bob Corker, who said Sunday that accepting Obama's tax rate position may be the "best route for [Republicans] to take" -- urged the party to turn to the issues of entitlement reform and spending in the new Congress after the tax fight is resolved.?

Obama ally and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill. said on Meet the Press that reforms to the costly but popular Medicare system will be necessary to put the nation's finances in order but that a measured look at the program is needed rather than a quick fix.?

"We know that we have to do something, to make sure that we take an approach that doesn't voucherize it or take the approach of the Paul Ryan budget, but keep this a sound program and a solvent program.?I just don't think we can do it in a matter of days here before the end of the year," Durbin said. "We need to address that in a thoughtful way through the committee structure after the first of the year."?

Assistant Majority Leader of the Senate Dick Durbin says the Democrats, President Obama are working hard to avoid going off the fiscal cliff.

Durbin acknowledged that he supports means testing for Medicare, a sliding scale that would offer fewer benefits for wealthy seniors and boost support for poorer recipients.?But he also resisted GOP proposals to raise the retirement age as a way to chop substantial savings out of the costly Medicare price tag.?

"I listen to Republicans who say 'we can't wait to repeal Obamacare and the insurance exchanges,'" he said, noting that early retirees could face gaps in coverage during years of potentially poor health. "Where does a person turn if they're 65 years of age and the Medicare eligibility age is 67?"?

McCarthy, who -- along with most of his House Republican colleagues -- wants to keep even the top rates stable, said that public opinion is squarely in the GOP's corner when it comes to addressing the federal government's expenditures.?

"This is really about spending," he said. ?"I don't think Republicans or Americans want to raise any taxes just to continue the spending in Washington. They want it more efficient, more effective, and more accountable."

Source: http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/09/15795309-as-cliff-looms-both-sides-position-on-entitlements?lite

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MIC Taiwan: Discussing the Future Of Taiwan Music In The World ...

Taiwan is a country that has consistently pulled above its weight, and it?s culture is no exception. While there are only 23 million inhabitants living in this sub-tropical island, Taiwan is Greater China?s (Mainland, Hong Kong & Taiwan) culture superpower with revenues from domestic TV, film and pop music industries reaching US$45 billion in 2009. Its dominance of the pop music industry has produced the sector?s top earning stars such as Jolin, A-Mei and Jay Chow, with over 85% of the music listened to in Greater China being produced in Taiwan.

Bearbabes performing at Taipei?s Legacy

While Taiwan is not alone in culturally pulling-above-its-weight on the world stage ? think Canada, Sweden and South Korea ? it finds itself facing some unique challenges in an increasingly competitive environment. Taiwan has always had to compete with Japanese Pop culture since the 70s, however, now Korean Pop (K-Pop) has grown within East and South East Asia?s cross-regional musical phenomena. This has pushed countries across the region, notably Singapore and China, to invest in developing their soft power, ie., global cultural reach.

But it is the Mainland that presents the greatest challenges and opportunities for Taiwan. Take just one statistic ? a survey in 2011 found that Taiwan had 2.9 million smartphone users, however, China is estimated to have 100 times as many users and continues to grow rapidly. 2013 is also likely to be a landmark year for China?s music industry as the government is to begin rolling out a new model to clamp down on piracy and track usage, enabling royalty payments to creators. As one expert consulting the Chinese government on digital music standards recently told me, ?Perhaps next year, music will no longer be free in China.? This tremendous opportunity, of course, also presents Taiwan with its greatest challenge of holding its lead in the sector as the Mainland?s music industry inevitably develops.

http://www.musicdish.com/img/article/2009-11/IMG_1043.jpg
MIC Taiwan Speakers

This was the context for the Music Industry Conference (MIC) Taiwanheld at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel in November. Since 2010, Taiwan?s Government Information Office has been increasing its support of Taiwan artists performing in the West. MIC, on the other hand, gathered international expertise for an open discussion on key issues to form the building blocks of Taiwan pop music?s international development, including:

* Artistic collaboration between Taiwanese and Western artists, from songwriting and co-production, to live events and touring.
* Investments in music education and curriculum, particularly of music professionals through training and certification
* Digital platform: mobile & web audiovisual stream business collaboration

I had the opportunity to participate in several of the panels, so I wanted to share some of my takeaways from the forum.

I often have ?discussions? with individuals knowledgeable about Asian Pop as to its potential crossover in the West. While Psy on the surface appears to bolster that potential (Billboard?s Rob Schwartz laid out an interesting 5 step plan Psy would need to take to go from fad to star in the US), I still contend that Asian and Western Pop are very different animals and not very translatable in the respective markets. Even in Asia, Western Pop lags far behind K-Pop, J-Pop and C-Pop (with the exception of the Philippines where US Pop is dominant).

As such, if Taiwanese acts want to branch out internationally, collaborating with their Western counterparts will be key. First off, they need to come equipped with English songs. Apart from the odd exception (?88 Luftballons? in my day), Americans just don?t get down with foreign-language lyrics. K-Pop has understood this and is responding with English-language releases in 2013 from major acts like The Wonder Girls.

MIC Taiwan speakers meeting with Minitry of Culture Official

But this demands research and collaborating with the right people. Iggy Dahl and Hayden Bell, one of the most successful European songwriting duos in Asia noted at the conference the amount of time and research invested in understanding the difference between Asian and Western pop song structure. The same would be true for Taiwanese performing artists wanting to release music in the US.

A particularly untaped and challenging sector is the live music market. Having myself promoted several Taiwanese showcases in New York and Paris, I can attest to the potential audiences from the Chinese expat and immigrant community. But in order to go beyond those niche audiences (and the casinos of Atlantic City and Mohegan), Taiwanese acts will have to develop a broad collaborative strategy with their Western counterparts, from recordings and music videos to live production ? what I would call an integrated collaborative strategy.

Simple Plan with Kelly Cha

The opportunity for Western acts are potentially even bigger as this would provide them with relatively easy access to the Chinese market. I gave at the conference the example of Simple Plan, which put together different versions of their song ?Jet Lag? with other female stars from around the world, including a Chinese version with Kelly Cha.

Of course, the ability of Taiwanese artists (or those from other nationalities) to monetize their success in China has been problematic. While Taiwan artists account for over 70% of ticket sales in the Mainland, digital piracy has stunted their true earnings potential. While they dominate the world?s largest music market by listeners, they have relatively little to show for it in sales or royalties ? thus the interest in Western markets such as the US.

While things on the copyright side in China are improving, we?ve long learned in the US that it is striking the right business/user model that leads to success and revenues (see Apple). Several speakers, including Ed Yen from the Pop Music Project Office and a-Peer Holding Group CEO Thomas Olscheske, noted new policies by the Chinese government that will lay the foundation for a legal digital music market to develop. Bill Zang, the chairman of the China Music Industry Committee and VP of Shanghai Synergy Culture & Entertainment Group, emphasized the agreements his group achieved with several of the major digital stakeholders (both online and mobile) allowing them to provide full transparency for copyright holders ? a constant complaint for international artists trying to figure out their royalties.

But Ed Yen explained how transparency goes well beyond royalty payments. Locked in that data are the keys to identifying emerging talent, providing it with the proper direction driven by real market data that consequently will be attractive to advertisers and brands. Importantly, this would also be the first global platform allowing brands to leverage campaigns on a worldwide scale. Imagine an A-Mei-Coldplay World Tour, sponsored by Perrier, with digital assets beamed worldwide to fans through the leading digital platform, its usage monitored and analyzed for the benefit of the sponsor, and thus better monetized by the artists.

Finally, an industry is only as good as the people that make it. It is the aspirations and hard work not only of the talent, but professionals that support and nurture them that create a thriving industry. So let me start by sharing a disturbing statistic: the proportion of Taiwanese music students that are eventually employed in a music-related industry is only 30%. This is to some extent because a music industry career was traditionally built on climbing the ladder from the bottom (roadie, DJ,?) rather than getting a degree. In our industry, we?ve largely learned by doing ? the more we do, the more we learn, the higher we climb the ladder.

In the US, while music business/management as well as audio engineering programs have blossomed, schools from Berklee to Full Sail have also emphasized continuing education and career development. Full Sail reports that career placement rates range by degree from 70-97%. But as ex-Pink Floyd manager and IMMF Founder Peter Jenner noted, ?I?m afraid of certifications and degrees.? While investments in education are essential, aspiring music professionals need to embrace the indie?s DIY credo, go beyond education and get their hand dirty in the field. As such, where education can be the most effective is where it melds academics with real-life professional experience.

About the author:
Eric de Fontenay founded digital media firm MusicDish, subsequently launching the largest music newswire Mi2N. In 2009, he turned his focus on China?s music industry, culminating in the MusicDish*China brand. He?s worked with emerging Chinese artists as well as Taiwan?s Pop Music Office, major festivals like Midi, and developing Western acts through social media marketing. He?s been quoted in media as diverse as FT China and China Daily to Portugal?s DIF magazine, and was recently featured in The Beijingers? 2012 music issue.
http://china.musicdish.com
http://www.facebook.com/eric.fontenay
http://www.linkedin.com/in/musicdish

Source: http://indiemusicnews.com/blog/2012/mic-taiwan-discussing-the-future-of-taiwan-music-in-the-world/

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Syrian rebels get new leadership in bid to unite

BEIRUT (AP) ? Rebel commanders from across Syria have joined forces under a united command they hope will increase coordination between diverse fighting groups and streamline the pathway for arms essential to their struggle against President Bashar Assad.

While many of the brigades involved in the fighting are decidedly Islamist in outlook and some have boasted about executing captured soldiers, two of the most extreme groups fighting in Syria were not invited to the rebel meeting in Turkey or included in the new council ? a move that could encourage Western support.

Disorganization has bedeviled Syria's rebel movement since its birth late last year, when some protesters gave up on peaceful means to bring down Assad's regime and took up arms, forming the base of what became the Free Syrian Army.

But the movement has never actually been an army. Scores of rebel groups battle Assad's forces across the country, many coordinating with no one outside of their own area. While some say they want a civil, democratic government, others advocate an Islamic state.

The new body, expected to be announced officially on Sunday, hopes to form the basis of a united rebel front.

Some 500 delegates elected the 30-person Supreme Military Council and a Chief of Staff on Friday and planned to meet soon with representatives from the opposition's newly reorganized political leadership, participants said.

"The aim of this meeting was to unify the armed opposition to bring down the regime," said a rebel commander from near Damascus who attended the meeting. "It also aims to get the situation under control once the regime falls."

The move toward greater unity on the armed front comes as the U.S. and others try to strengthen the opposition's leadership while sidelining extremist factions that have become a vital part of the rebels' ground forces.

The opposition's political leadership reorganized last month, under Western pressure, into a new National Alliance that its backers hope will have broader representation and stronger links to rebel fighters.

Britain, France, Turkey and several Gulf Arab nations have recognized the National Alliance, effectively considering it a government in exile.

The U.S. is expected to recognize it at an international "Friends of Syria" conference in Marakesh, Morocco, that begins Wednesday.

It remains unclear how the new military command will relate to the National Alliance and whether foreign powers will back it.

But two of Syria's most extreme rebel groups were not included: Jabhat al-Nusra, which has claimed deadly suicide bombings and is believed to be linked to al-Qaida, and Ahrar al-Sham, an Islamic fundamentalist brigade home to many foreign jihadis.

U.S. officials have said the Obama administration is preparing to designate Jabhat al-Nusra a terrorist organization.

Many of the participating groups have strong Islamist agendas, and some have fought in ways that could scare away Western backers. They include the Tawheed Brigade, whose ideology is similar to that of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Falcons of Damascus, an ultraconservative Islamist group. Its leader, Ahmed Eissa al-Sheik, told The Associated Press earlier this year that his men had executed five captured government soldiers.

Elizabeth O'Bagy, who studies Syria's rebels for the Institute for the Study of War, said the new command included important on-the-ground commanders, which will give it more support from various rebel factions. The inclusion less extreme Islamist brigades will also give the body credibility.

"They are going to have a role in a future Syria and sidelining them will only fuel tensions," she said. Including them "shows that this command is representative of those on the ground, not just the ideal candidates for the West."

If the new command can lead effectively and supply badly needed weapons, it could attract fighters who joined hard-line groups because they were flush with arms but may not agree with their ideology, she said.

A rebel official said more than 500 delegates had been meeting since Wednesday in the Turkish resort of Antalya and were planning to announce their new group on Sunday.

The rebel commander from near Damascus said the group had chosen Brig. Gen. Salim Idriss, who defected from Assad's army, as its chief of staff. It also had divided Syria into five regions, each of which will be under one of Idriss' assistants.

The new structure diminishes the role of previous leaders in the Free Syrian Army. Brig. Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh, who headed the FSA's Military Council, will play no rule in the new structure, the commander said. Riad al-Asaad, the head of the Free Syrian Army, will retain a symbolic post.

The official and commander spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the meeting before its conclusion.

The Syrian government did not comment on the new rebel command and throughout the uprising has considered the rebels terrorists backed by foreign powers that seek to destroy the country.

Assad's regime appears increasingly embattled, with rebels making gains in northern Syria and near Damascus while the U.S., Turkey and others seek to hasten its demise. U.S. officials have expressed fears that Assad could use chemical or biological weapons, and U.S. intelligence has reported new activities at sites housing Syria's chemical weapons.

The government tried to reverse the charge on Saturday, saying it had warned the United Nations that "terrorist groups" might use chemical weapons.

Syria's state news agency said the Foreign Ministry had sent letters to the U.N. Security Council and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon saying that Syria would not use chemical weapons against its own people.

Syria has never confirmed it has chemical weapons, but outside experts believe it has substantial stockpiles of mustard gas and a range of nerve agents, including sarin, a highly toxic substance that can suffocate its victims by paralyzing their lungs.

No rebel groups are known to possess chemical weapons and it is unlikely their mostly amateur fighters would know how to use them.

Anti-regime activist say more than 40,000 people have been killed since Syria's uprising started in March 2011.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-leadership-bid-unite-204843599.html

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Cherry blink Christmas cookies

Crunchy cereal cookies topped with festive red and green maraschino cherries are a retro Christmas treat.

By Kendra Nordin,?Kitchen Report / December 8, 2012

Cherry Blinks are a cheerful Christmas cookie made with cereal, nuts, and topped with maraschino or candied cherries.

Kitchen Report

Enlarge

In the middle of the rush to get ready for the holidays, my friend Rebecca stopped by my apartment armed with two shopping bags full of ingredients. As I wrapped presents she worked on these Cherry Blinks for her colleagues at the private school on Beacon Hill where she teaches.

Skip to next paragraph Kendra Nordin

Staff editor

Kendra Nordin is a staff editor and writer for the weekly print edition of the Monitor. She also produces Stir It Up!, a recipe blog for CSMonitor.com.

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Cherry Blinks aren't a part of my Christmas memory index, but they do bring to mind Christmases of times past when our family Christmas tree was festooned with wildly blinking colored lights. (I'm partial to the calmer, classic white lights now.) The unnaturally bright red and green of the maraschino cherry toppers fit right in with all that sparkles and glows this season.

When I finally stretched out in a chair my cat Cricket climbed into my lap and started purring loudly as if to say, ?Stay here for awhile,? as the apartment filled with the warmth of baking cookies.

Faster than a wink of an eye, Rebecca handed me a mug of peppermint tea and a plate of warm Cherry Blinks. She changed things up a bit from the traditional recipe, using pecans and dried dates. Crunchy and sweet with their festive cherries, these would make a delicious addition to any Christmas cookie platter.

Cherry Blinks

1-3/4? cups cereal (Wheaties, Special K, or cornflakes)

?1/2? cup sugar

1/3? cup shortening

1? tablespoon plus 1-1/2 teaspoons milk

1? teaspoon vanilla

1? egg

1? cup all-purpose flour

1/2? teaspoon baking powder

1/4? teaspoon baking soda

1/4? teaspoon salt

1/2? cup dried dates, chopped

1/2? cup chopped pecans

About 36 candied or maraschino cherries (red and green)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Crush cereal; set aside.

In large bowl, mix sugar, shortening, milk, vanilla and egg. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in dates and pecans.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into crushed cereal; roll gently until completely coated. Place cookies about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press cherry into each cookie.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or just until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/qPWLwePocpQ/Cherry-blink-Christmas-cookies

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Self-Defense For Women! | Jackies Womens Interest Bazaar - Jonas

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Source: http://clarks7168.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/self-defense-for-women-jackies-womens-interest-bazaar-jonas.html

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Source: http://archean-prepossessing.blogspot.com/2012/12/self-defense-for-women-jackies-womens.html

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A Navajo Women finding her way through beauty and hope of a ...

Dec. 8 | alex.c@thenavajopost.com

Navajo ladies have been appearing in rising model calendars and magazines. Navajo photographers are getting a chance to Brand their people as beautiful, as the landscape of red sand stone and rocky structures of the reservation that just sits north of Flagstaff.

Tasheena Chavez, clueless of whom and where she came from. Never grew up on the Navajo reservation or spoke her language until age 11, her parents separated and she and her mother along with her older sister moved to Window Rock and for the first time she was surrounded by her people ?I know people weren?t to fond of me, I would get criticize and people would say, she don?t look like full Navajo.? she said.

Tasheena soon found herself bound by drugs and alcohol, trouble of a stubborn teen had risen. By age 13 she plummet from home to home, making honor roll in schools wasn?t enough, she said she was unfit for a stable home until age 18 and her youthful actions came to a standstill.

?A year of putting my life on track there was an unexpected surprise, I was pregnant. My mind flowing with concerns, I couldn?t help to think of past doctors words it would be a one in a million chance that I carry a child full term, but I wasn?t ready to give up.?, she said.

Tasheena left everything behind and reached out to her mother for help. Afterwards, they moved to Gallup where she said she Prepared for the child to come, ?a day after Christmas in 2008 I finally gave birth, I named my beautiful baby girl Tatiyana Tasheena.? adding, ?I struggled as single mothers do, very little money, no transportation, no home, violence and alcoholics around.?

Just past her daughters first birthday she came upon a man name Joseph Chavez, she said he had?great values and accomplishments that?desired her and her daughter. Two years pass, they married on January 11, 2012. They both dreamed of a better life and to break the cyle of the past generations of drugs and alcohol. Together they started a new life in Rio Rancho, NM. She her husband encouraged her to start where she left off.

Working with different photographers she landed a spot in a Native American Calendar as Miss July. She got her confidence back and a passion for modeling. She now works with a large number of photographers in her area.

Tasheena Chavez now 23 years old proudly says she is from the Towering House Clan, Born for the His Sheaves Leaf Clan,?Maternal grandparents is from the Salt Clan and Paternal grandparent from the Salt Extint Clan. Tasheena said she was born in Fort Definace and the youngest of 4 from her parents Harvey and Oleta Kinsel.

?I am now a proud Native American woman from the Navajo Tribe, I continue to learn more of my culture and to speak our sacred language to pass down to my children. I would like to keep our Native traditions, culture and language alive, anything is possible no matter hardships in our path, nothing will ever be worth it, if we don?t try and it?s never to late to learn your language and your traditions. As this 2012 comes to an end and?just as a memory, this is just the beginning and 2013 will see more of me? she said.

Tasheena hopes to be apart of branding her people as beautiful, a society that has in the past shun as not successful.

Source: http://thenavajopost.com/2012/12/08/a-navajo-women-finding-her-way-through-beauty-and-hope-of-a-better-future/

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[APP][Android 2.2+] SpeedKey - EasyBox Router WPA key calculation v1.4

---

SpeedKey
EasyBox standard WPA Key recovery

Info:
EasyBox routers, which where manufactured by Arcadyan, have a security vulnerability.
It's possible to find out the default WPA Key by knowing the MAC of the router.
This is the first free Android App, being able to this.
Don't know how it is somewhere else, but in Germany EasyBox routers are quite frequent,
Original Algorythm by Wotan ( See: wotan.cc)

Bugs:
The copy button ist not working yet, the key appears in a Textbox below.
The very new EasyBoxes (2012?) are not compatible.
When the key was changed, it won't work of course.

Update:
1.5: Ads will hide after clicking once on them and pressing back to return to the App. Very good for smaller screens and my AdMob Account

Attention: Hacking of networks is illegal without having the permission of the owner! I am not responsible for any damage etc. this app could cause
This software is only intended to show a big security hole, not to be able to surf in the neighbours Wifi

When someone finds bugs, post it. I'm a big fan of those and love to collect them.
If you like the app, please consider to click on the small AdMob Banner

Tested on:
Nexus 7, Xperia Mini, Ideos X5.

Attached Thumbnails

Attached Files

Source: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2036411&goto=newpost

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Weather Channel Video: Weekend Getaways ... - Travel + Leisure

12.07.12

Travel + Leisure's Sarah Spagnolo presents easy weekend getaways from San Francisco on the Weather Channel's Wake Up and Go.

1. EMERGING FOOD SCENE: Oakland, California

A now-thriving restaurant scene has put this East Bay City?just a 20-minute drive across the bridge from San Francisco?on the traveler?s map. WHERE TO STAY The Waterfront Hotel, a 143-room property right on the marina, with a heated pool, weekday wine and cheese hour, and a fireplace and balcony in every room. PRICE $149 a night. BOOK NOW?

2. FAMILY ESCAPE: Carmel, California

Those looking for a bucolic escape with a dose of celebrity cache will love Carmel-by-the-Sea, two hours south of San Francisco. WHERE TO STAY Clint Eastwood?s Mission Ranch Hotel, for 31 guest rooms on 22 rolling acres. Stay busy hiking towards the crashing waves at Point Lobos or playing tennis on one of six courts at the sprawling fitness center. PRICE $139 a night. BOOK NOW?

3. WINE SCENE: Napa Valley, California

California?s Napa Valley, one hour north of San Francisco, is the place for rustic-luxe hotels, Michelin-started restaurants, and cult wineries. WHERE TO STAY Westin Verasa Napa, in the heart of downtown, offers easy access to more than 30 restaurants and the Oxbow Public Market?plus those plush Westin Heavenly Beds. PRICE From $169 a night. BOOK NOW

TRAVEL TECH TIPS T+L recently attended the 2012 PhoCusWright Conference? (phocuswright.com). Here are two of our favorite web apps from the Travel Innovation Summit:

• KnowDelay (knowdelay.com) This site, now in beta, helps frequent fliers predict weather delays, and provides information on alternate flights that land within one hour of the original arrival time.
• Rome2Rio (rome2rio.com) Like HopStop on steroids, this website allows travelers to input two destinations (address, landmark, or city), and offers specific instructions on how to navigate between them with flights as well as public transportation.

Source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-blog/carry-on/2012/12/7/weather-channel-video-weekend-getaways-from-san-francisco

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Russia, U.S. to seek "creative" Syria solution -envoy

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Russia and the United States will seek a "creative" solution to drag Syria back from the brink, the international mediator on Syria said on Thursday after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The comments by Lakhdar Brahimi, who called the unscheduled meeting on the sidelines of a Dublin conference, suggested a new coordination among the major powers could be emerging on Syria after months of sometimes bitter disagreement.

But statements from officials remained cautious.

A senior U.S. State Department official called the meeting "a constructive discussion focused on how to support a political transition in practical terms".

The next step would be a meeting "in the next few days" between Brahimi and senior officials from the United States and Russia "to discuss the specifics of taking this work forward", the official said.

Brahimi said he would seek peace based on the Geneva Declaration which calls for a transitional administration.

"We haven't taken any sensational decisions," he told reporters after the meeting at a gathering of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). He called Syria's situation "very, very, very bad".

"We have agreed that we must continue to work together to see how we can find creative ways of bringing this problem under control and hopefully starting to solve it.

"We have also talked a little bit about how we can work out hopefully a process that will get Syria back from the brink. To put together a peace process that will be based on Geneva."

Clinton held a bilateral meeting with Lavrov and Brahimi met separately with Lavrov before the three sat down together. Clinton then had a short follow-on meeting with Brahimi.

She told a news conference before the talks that the United States had been trying hard to work with Russia to stop the bloodshed in Syria and start a political transition.

"Events on the ground in Syria are accelerating, and we see that in many different ways," she said. "The pressure against the regime in and around Damascus seems to be increasing."

In Moscow, a senior Russian lawmaker and ally of Vladimir Putin described Syria's government on Thursday as being incapable of doing its job properly, in a sign Russia is trying to distance itself from President Bashar al-Assad.

That followed comments by Putin in Turkey on Monday that "new, fresh ideas" about how to end the crisis had emerged. The Kremlin said they would be discussed further by Russian and Turkish diplomats.

Assad's deputy foreign minister said meanwhile Western powers were whipping up fears of a fateful move to the use of chemical weapons in Syria's civil war as a "pretext for intervention".

RUSSIAN AND CHINESE OPPOSITION

The Dublin talks came ahead of a meeting of the Western-backed "Friends of Syria" group in Marrakech next Wednesday which is expected to boost support for anti-Assad forces, and could see the United States recognizing a new rebel council as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

The rebels have made advances across Syria in recent weeks and fighting raged on Wednesday in an arc of suburbs on the eastern outskirts of Damascus.

Assad's family has ruled for 42 years and the president has vowed to fight to the death in a conflict that has killed an estimated 38,000 people and risks sucking in other countries.

Opposition sources said on Wednesday rebels, riven by deep divisions and rivalries, were trying to restructure their leadership across Syria in an effort to secure foreign funding for their armed revolt.

Brahimi has called for world powers to issue a U.N. Security Council resolution based on a June deal they reached in Geneva to set up a transitional government.

The Geneva Declaration, agreed when Kofi Annan was international mediator, called for a transitional administration but did not specify what role, if any, Assad would have.

The United States and its allies want Assad to step down. Russia has repeatedly said his fate cannot be decided outside Syria, but also appears to be trying to position itself for his potential exit.

Western countries proposed a new resolution at the U.N. Security Council in July aimed at putting direct pressure on Assad by threatening more sanctions unless his troops stopped using heavy weapons and withdrew troops from towns and cities.

Russia and China vetoed the resolution, saying it represented interference in Syria's internal affairs.

Annan stepped down in August, saying divisions in the Security Council made his plan unworkable.

The United States and its allies said the plan failed because of Assad's refusal to abide by its provisions and Russia and China's refusal to hold Assad accountable.

A group of bipartisan senators on Thursday said they stand ready to support President Barack Obama should he decide to use military force against Syria if it appears that Assad is preparing to use chemical weapons.

They also called on Russia, an ally of Assad, to become more active in trying to resolve the crisis.

Republican Senator John McCain, who has long advocated that the United States do more to help the Syrian rebels, told reporters he and three other senators - independent Joseph Lieberman, Democrat Chris Coons and Republican Lindsey Graham - were "deeply disturbed" by reports that Assad may have weaponised some of his stores of chemical and biological agents.

"If true, these reports may mean that the United States and our allies are facing the prospect of an imminent use of weapons of mass destruction in Syria, and this may be the last warning we get," McCain told reporters in Washington.

He criticized the Obama administration's policy of non-intervention since the rebellion began nearly two years ago.

"Time for talking about what to do may now be coming to a close and we may instead be left with an awful and very difficult decision," he said, describing the choice as whether to stay on the sidelines or take military action of some kind.

"We have now reached a point where there are weapons of mass destruction that may be used and also there is a significant question about the security of these weapons should Bashar Assad fall."

McCain said it was now up to the Russians "to do everything possible" to make sure Assad did not use chemical weapons.

(Additional reporting by Stephen Mangan and Gabriela Baczynska in Moscow and Tabassum Zakaria in Washington; writing by Padraic Halpin; editing by Andrew Roche)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-u-seek-creative-syria-solution-envoy-200636942.html

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Germany Read to Send Missiles, Troops to Turkey

By Alex Johnston
Epoch Times Staff Created: December 6, 2012 Last Updated: December 6, 2012

Soldiers of the Air Defense Missile Squadron 2 walk past Patriot missile launchers in Bad S?lze, Germany, on Dec. 4, 2012. Germany's cabinet authorized on Dec. 6 the sending of Patriot missiles to Turkey for defense against violence along the Syrian border. (Gernd Wustneck/AFP/Getty Images)

The German cabinet approved a resolution on Thursday to send Patriot missile batteries, and as many as 400 soldiers, to Turkey?s southern border. Germany will aid its fellow NATO member state to prevent violence from Syria?s civil war from spilling across the border.?

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The missile battery is defensive in nature, according to a statement by NATO foreign ministers, and ?it will in no way support a no-fly zone or any offensive operation.?

NATO approved Turkey?s request for the missiles earlier this week, with the Netherlands and the United States also planning to send weapons. The German Parliament will vote on the cabinet resolution next week, and it is expected to pass with great support, according to German publication Der Spiegel.?

?Turkey is currently the most-affected NATO partner in the Syria conflict,? said German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizi?re?in a statement. ?Supporting Turkey is for a clear defensive purpose and is being conducted as a military deterrent.?

In early October, a Syrian mortar fell on a Turkish family home along the border, killing five people. Turkey bombed Syrian targets for nearly a week following the incident. Turkey has taken in the most Syrian refugees who have fled their homeland since the violence began nearly two years ago.

Turkey is currently the most-affected NATO partner in the Syria conflict.

?Thomas de Maizi?re,?German Defense Minister

Elaborating on the threat, Maizi?re?told Der Spiegel that ?Syria has a not insignificant ballistic missile capability,? with some missiles having a range of around 450 miles that could hit a large swath of Turkey.

?The Syrian government has shown no intention of using these rockets, but we want it to remain that way,? he added.

The German foreign and defense ministries said the decision would allow German troops to say in Turkey until Jan. 31, 2014.?

Germany?s approval of the deployment comes after concerns flared this week over Syria?s possible deployment of chemical weapons. Earlier this year, U.S. President Barack Obama described chemical weapons use by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad?s regime as a ?red line? that if crossed, could be grounds for possible military intervention.

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

?

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/germany-read-to-send-missiles-troops-to-turkey-322582.html

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Give Senior and Baby boomer a Social Life for Christmas

Christmas is coming, I wish you have a happy Christmas, and thank you for your attention to my blog.

From Boomer Premier Dating: Children or friends of single Boomers and Seniors can give a Christmas Gift of a membership to a shy parent, relative or friend to find a date, a traveling companion or a home sharing opportunity.

And that, as divorces rates among couples over 50 have doubled in the last 20 years, many are remarrying and starting new families. In 1980, 19% of married people ages 50 and older were in remarriages compared with 30% in 2009, according to a study by the National Center for Family & Marriage Research. Boomers remarry learn from failed relationships.

There has been a perfect storm of baby boomers who are single, with a growing number using the Internet and discovering that it's a way to be connected.

??

Heart to Heart, an important part of Boomer and Senior Premier Dating services offers an opportunity for children or friends of single Boomers and Seniors to give a Christmas Gift of a membership to a shy parent, relative or friend to find a date, a traveling companion or a home sharing opportunity. The managing team of dating website promises an experience that is sprinkled with humor as they invite you to LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE.

You can try this dating sites: 50Romance.com and SeniorLUV.com
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Source: http://50romance.blogspot.com/2012/12/give-senior-and-baby-boomer-social-life.html

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In typhoon-hit Philippines, warnings were ignored

NEW BATAAN, Philippines (AP) ? Surrounded by steep mountains, far-flung New Bataan town has long been a tragedy waiting to happen in a valley of disasters. A government-issued geological hazard map identifies the extremely precarious location of the farming community in the southern Philippines as "highly susceptible to flooding and landslides."

Yet, like in many other places on resource-rich Mindanao Island and elsewhere in this disaster-prone Southeast Asian nation, such warnings went unheeded ? until a powerful typhoon struck this week, washing away emergency shelters, a military camp and entire families. The storm killed more than 350 people, with nearly 400 missing.

Survivors of Typhoon Bopha like Joseph Requinto, a farmer, counted their blessings. After a night of pounding rain, floodwaters started rising around 4 a.m. Tuesday, trapping Requinto, his wife and two young children in their house near a creek.

"After that I saw some people being swept away. We were able to save ourselves by climbing up (the hill)," he told The Associated Press. "Some of my relatives died and their bodies were recovered near the village. We were on higher ground. ... The water was as high as a coconut tree. All the bamboo trees, even the big ones, were all mowed down."

He said he carried his two children and sought shelter behind boulders that shielded them from coconut trees rolling down the hill. "We were 70 plus in all," he said.

It was a repeat of a tragedy last December, when 1,200 people died on the opposite end of Mindanao as a powerful storm overflowed rivers. Then and now, raging flash floods, logs and large rocks carried people away to their deaths. In an impoverished nation where the jobless risk life and limb to feed their families, there is little the government can do once such danger zones spring up.

"It's not only an environmental issue, it's also a poverty issue," said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje. "The people would say we are better off here, at least we have food to eat or money to buy food, even if it is risky. But somehow we would like to protect their lives and if possible give them other sources of livelihood so that we can take them out of these permanent danger zones."

At least 200 of the victims of Typhoon Bopha died in Compostela Valley alone, including 78 villagers and soldiers who perished in a flash flood that swamped two emergency shelters and a military camp in the village of Andap in the Compostela Valley municipality of New Bataan. The town, crisscrossed by rivers, was founded in 1968 by banana, coconut, cocoa and mango farmers who cut down trees to make room for land on hillsides.

"There is the Mayo River there, it's a natural channel way of the water from the upstream," said Leo Jasareno, director of the Bureau of Mines and Geosciences. "The water has no other path but Andap village."

He said that even before the typhoon, his regional bureau in Mindanao served local authorities an "official notice informing them that it is a flood-prone area and it must be evacuated."

In fact, Jasareno said, about 80 percent of the Compostela Valley is a danger zone due to a combination of factors, including the mountains and rivers, as well as logging that has stripped hills of trees that minimize landslides and absorb rainwater. Logging has been banned since last year's fatal flooding but continues illegally.

Compostela Valley Gov. Arturo Uy, whose province is a rich source of timber and gold dug by small-scale miners, rejected criticism by scientists and government officials in the capital, Manila, that these towns should relocate.

"It's not possible to have no houses there because even the town center was hit. You mean to say the whole town will be abandoned?" Uy told the AP. He doubted the basis for classifying the area as dangerous and said he had urged the central government to review the hazard maps.

"Even when we have floods, the water would not spill over so much. People are wondering why there was such a huge volume of water," he said.

"We thought they would be safe there, but the volume of water was so huge," he said.

He said that residents sought shelter in the village hall, the health center and the covered court in an area that is elevated and was never flooded before this week. Most of the casualties occurred there.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who visited New Bataan on Wednesday, saw the town covered in 15 centimeters (6 inches) of mud. He was told by townsfolk that a pond or a small lake atop the mountain collapsed, causing torrents of water to rampage like a waterfall.

"There is hardly any structure that is undamaged in New Bataan town," he said. "Entire families may have been washed away."

On Thursday, residents armed with hammers began to repair devastated homes and wash their muddy belongings, taking advantage of the sunny weather. A rescuer in orange overalls blew his whistle after seeing a hand protruding from a muddy heap of logs, rocks and debris, drawing a throng of army troops and volunteers armed with shovels and crowbars.

Four bodies were pulled out from the muck, including two children.

Dozens of people in search of missing relatives waited at a government information center, staring blankly at their devastated town. Authorities planned to display about 80 newly washed bodies in coffins at a Roman Catholic church Friday, hoping relatives could identify some of them.

The deaths came despite efforts by President Benigno Aquino III's government to force residents out of high-risk communities as the typhoon approached. Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday directed local executives, police and military officials not to allow those displaced to return to their homes in areas classified as danger zones. However, it wasn't clear how quickly and where substitute homes would be built.

After slamming into Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley with winds of 175 kilometers (109 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 210 kph (130 mph), Typhoon Bopha roared quickly across the southern Mindanao and central regions. On Thursday, the typhoon was over the South China Sea west of Palawan province, and forecasters said it may dissipate after two days due to a surge of cool and dry air.

Some 20 typhoons and storms lash the northern and central Philippines each year, but they rarely hit the vast southern Mindanao region. Sprawling export banana plantations have been in place there for decades because strong winds seldom topple trees.

___

Associated Press writers Jim Gomez, Teresa Cerojano, Oliver Teves and Hrvoje Hranjski in Manila contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/typhoon-hit-philippines-warnings-were-ignored-081959800.html

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